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If there ever was a time to own a home-based child focused business; it has to be now. In an article on Entrepreneur Magazine ONLINE, Janean Chun wrote of booming types of franchise possibilities. Emerging as leaders of the pack are home-based and children's activities. More specifically, they are franchises that blend education with fun. Children themselves have become a hot market, making $150 billion in purchases a year. The format and makeup of the Odyssey program is perfect for individual owners, child care operations, health clubs, or art retail businesses. Odyssey Art Centers will be listed in the upcoming September issue of Entrepreneur Magazine. Look for us!
Linda, a woman who is fiercely independent and motivated, wanted to actively raise her child. She found the right formula for a perfect balance in her life. The result was the creation of Odyssey Art Centers. As the proprietor of a business where she could do the thing she loved most and share it with others, she could be there for her son every day, and earn a living.
As the business took off and she had more students than she could deal with, Linda decided to franchise the Odyssey name to qualified candidates. What qualifies a person to be an Odyssey owner/operator? It's not too complicated. Linda looks for certain qualities in potential Odyssey owners. These qualities and skills include:
- love of people -- nurturing
- interest in personal learning and teaching others
- reliable honest
- creative
- possess a sense of humor
- generous nature
- organized
- support system in place -- (partner approves of commitment)
- financially sound
Depending on space, starting on Odyssey Art Center is relatively easy. The franchise fee and start-up costs are well under $50,000 and current and past owners/operators of the centers recouped their franchise fee within the first twelve to eighteen months. As with the flagship center, the other Odyssey Art Centers are beginning their own waiting lists from increased demand.
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The Odyssey Art Center Owner Experience |
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After signing on, new owners enter an intensive training program that covers the philosophy of the program, equipment, format of each ten week program, and how to operate the program.
The bulk of the training focuses on learning to teach in the Odyssey Art method which will give the student a success experience, and will meet the individual's needs at the same time. Additional training for the Odyssey Art at Sea program comes free with the purchase of the franchise.
 The new owner is trained to use the following materials and all the permutations and combinations of each of the following: paints, drawing materials (oil pastels, markers, pastels, colored pencils), clay (different methods -- slab, lump, coil), collage, threads and fibers (stitchery, weaving), wood, puppets and puppetry, and finally, pariscraft.
A manual which has all the basic training included, as well as lesson plans, is provided (updated supplements are provided each year). During the training, guidelines are given for evidences of growth in each child and how to discuss and evaluate work. Additionally, an art history overview is addressed. Bookkeeping and business records are also discussed.
 Owners receive a great deal of support from Odyssey. Not only are there periodic visits to lend support and suggestions, but workshops are provided during the year to learn about new materials and projects. During the summer, a two to three day training program for the following year is given to all owners. Odyssey offers a unique support system to its branches. For example, while one owner was unable to teach classes due to an accident, another Odyssey owner was able to fill in to teach.
If you would like to learn more about owning your own Odyssey Art Center, please download and fill out our franchise application form. Print it and fill it out completely and mail it to us at Odyssey Art Centers, Box 512, Tarrytown, NY 10591. We will contact you upon receipt and review. Please know that filling out the franchise application form puts you under no obligation to Odyssey Art Centers.
The Fleetwood Art Center
From left to right: Megan Molloy, Julie LaBarbara, Kate McGlynn, Carole Hickey, Nina Pagani, Eric DeFeo
Carole Hickey
at the Fleetwood Art Center
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